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By Emily Roberts (ebroberts@comcast.net)
Little Rock
Bop Club
Almost any shoe that fits
well with a smooth-but-not-slippery sole will work for dancing, especially
while you're learning. You can dance in flexible street shoes, or you can go
to a dance supply store (check the Yellow Pages and call around to find one
convenient for you) and get jazz shoes with a suede sole (completely flat)
or character shoes with a smooth leather sole (women can get a bit of heel).
Bowling shoes are another option, if you get the kind that have suede heels
as well as suede soles -- on both shoes.
You want a snug fit but not
so tight they pinch anywhere. Don't dance in shoes that don't fit, or shoes
with soles that grip the floor -- you'll hurt yourself.
What about high heels for
women? If you're accustomed to high heels for everyday wear, and like them,
by all means try dancing in them. You may want a slightly lower heel; if
you're used to walking around in shoes with a 2.5-inch heel, try a 2-inch
heel for dancing. Street shoes often have weak heels, though, which are
likely to twist or bend when you step with your weight on the heel. That can
be dangerous.
Shoes made specifically for
ballroom and swing dancing are the best: suede soles, flexible in the
forefoot, steel shank arch and a strong heel that won't twist. They're
expensive, though ($100-150 and up), so you wouldn't want to buy your first
pair without help getting the right fit. Ideally, that means buying from a
vendor who specializes in ballroom dance shoes. Dance conventions often have
booths for shoe vendors. There will be a dance shoe vendor at Bop on the
Lake in September.
Once you know your size and
know how the shoes should feel, you can safely mail-order shoes made by the
same manufacturer and have a pretty good chance of getting shoes that fit on
the first try.
Folks have had some success
having suede soles added to street shoes that fit well, including athletic
shoes. A shoe repair shop can do it for about $25-$35. Make sure you ask for
"chrome-tanned" suede. You can also buy the suede from a leather shop or
shoe repair shop, cut two pieces for each shoe to fit the front of the sole
and heel separately, and glue it on yourself using Shoe Goo.
On the Internet, see
the "Cheap Dance Shoe FAQ"
(http://www.ballroomdances.org/cheap.html)
for more information.
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